5 Steps to Keep New Year's Resolutions

Guest Author - Susan D. Bates

If you have created New Year’s resolutions for the upcoming year, you are not alone. Many college students resolve to make life changes throughout the upcoming year for positive changes in their lives.

Although many students set New Year’s resolutions, it can be difficult for them to keep their resolutions. Below are five steps to help you keep your New Year’s resolutions:

Step 1: Select Appropriate Resolutions
The first step to keeping your New Year’s resolutions is to select resolutions you will be able keep. The resolutions you choose should be focused, realistic, measurable, and controllable.

Focus on One or Two Resolutions
It is best to focus on only one or two New Year’s resolutions. Trying to keep a long list of resolutions can make it more difficult to accomplish any of them. If you only have one or two resolutions it is easier to remain focused on them.

Be Realistic
Select goals you believe you will be able to achieve in the upcoming year. What is realistic for you may be very different from what is realistic for someone else. So, you will have to carefully assess what is realistic for you.

Find Measurable Resolutions
It is easier to keep measurable resolutions because it will be easier to verify your progress. Whereas, it may be difficult to determine how well you are keeping vague resolutions.

Choose Controllable Resolutions
Select resolutions that are largely within your control. Many resolutions that students choose are partially within their control and partially within the control of something or someone else. However, if you select resolutions that are mostly within your control, you are more likely to have the power to achieve them.

Step 2: Devise a Plan
Once you have selected resolutions for the upcoming year, you will need to create a plan, and then follow that plan to achieve them.

Step 3: Track Your Progress
Find a method to monitor your progress of keeping your resolutions. Track your progress by writing down the steps you take toward achieving your goal and maintain a record of it. This record may be electronic or on paper.

Step 4: Reward Yourself
Give yourself little rewards as you achieve milestones. Decide in advance how and when you will reward yourself for your progress.

Step 5: Keep Trying
While temporary setbacks are common, it is important not to let them stop you. If you experience a setback, try again.

If you work hard to keep your resolutions, your resolutions will eventually become habits. Once the resolution becomes a habit, you will no longer need to spend as much energy working to keep them since they will be part of your routine.